IRELAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 April 1918, Page 6

IRELAND.

I THE CONSCRIPTION QUESTION.

DEBATE IN THE COMMONS. IMPORTANT STATEMENT BY THE PREMIER London, April 17. Sir Edward Carson, in the Housa of Common?, said it was wrong fcr the Government to try to pass Iri*9h conscription by a bribe and the throwing over of those who had been faithful to them in the past. The Government was trying to please everybody and, in the long run, it pleased nobody He besought Ulstermen to go on keeping up the prosecution of the war regardless of the seriousness and sadness of the vista opening before them. Mr. Lloyd George, replying to Mr. Dillon's reference to the American colonies, said it was analogous in that it was a case of taxation without representation.

The Premier warmly defended the Government's rights to conscript Ireland for the defence of Regarding Sir E. Carson's accusation, that the pledge that Home Rule would not be placed on the statute book until after the war had been broken, nobody contemplated that the war would last four years. Such prolonged suspense was a peril to the whole Empire. The proposals were considered the best means of prosecuting the war, without a thought of political advantage or disadvantage. Conscription for Ireland was only introduced l>eeause the emergency demanded more "drastic recruiting measures in England, which would feel nn injustice unless Ireland wa s included. American opinion supported the ManPower Bill, provided Ireland was offer?,] Home Rule. If the Bill failed to pass, those responsible for its failure ought to be answerable for the direction of the war. The Bill was not offered afi a barsain- Each measure must be taken on its merits. Since the Bill had been introduced he had had day* of despondency and days of hope. The Germans aimed at destroying the British Army. This plan had failed. The enemy bad' inflicted heavy losses, but they were nothing to the losses which the enemy had sustained. The French army Was Intact and the American army was pouring across. If we stood firmly together, not giving way to fear and panic, we would •.vin through in the end. The clause was carried by 290 votes to 123. Mr. Dillon declared: "This is the worst day's work for England in the war period."